If I was unemployed and got a job at Follett, I guess I would be happy to have a job. On the other hand I've worked here for many years and it is hard watching the ethics sink lower and lower. I have been told that 'quality is not a priority'. It is true. This company no longer cares about producing a quality product. I have listened to the lies and justifications as benefits have been cut again and again. PTO, profit sharing, bonuses. All so the shareholders can make more money. Jobs cut for the supposed savings of outsourcing. Follett will be paying the price of these decisions for years to come, but share prices will surge for awhile and senior level bonuses will be paid out. It appears that the Follett family does not care about their long term reputation as long as their share prices are good today. Enjoy it now, because the consequences will become obvious eventually.
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The family came in to Westbrook for a cash withdrawal.
Follett family was onsite in Westbrook today. Counting their money, or making needed changes?
So much drama in this thread, geeze.
If you run for President you have my vote... since you are so perceptive and honest.
Follett should just disappear and be a bad memory like the Edsel or the Pacer or disco.
Anyone that is breathing and not tied to a management position should get out now.... because they are like cancer... the only to get rid of it is to cut it away before it eats and destroys you.
I'd make a video about it for the new Edelman inspired 'self edification' er cough Follett Values video series, but I don't think they'd let anyone see a film of me blowing raspberries at a picture of Bloody Mary for thirty seconds followed by a rather undignified middle finger.
I nominated MLS to get an F for innovation. Anyone second my nomination?
I agree with the poster largely. I've watched a lot of top tier talent leave and find greener pastures over the years. You can preach all the follett values you want, and all the surveys and hope and change preachy stuff, but I've learned to accept management "change for the future" stuff as just more people whistling Dixie. I gave up on middle management and I think a lot of best talent did so too. They realized that even though they were saving projects and working their butts off, there was very little reward or recognition. Many if not all, are now making more money and have more lucrative careers and they are working with companies that are clearly on the rise, rather the decline.
Also, most companies that resort to off-shoring / out sourcing may save money in the short run, but in the long run their software has quality issues and your company's secret's are now out of your domain. Also, out sourcing offers absolutely no loyalty to your company. In some of the situations I've seen, people in India routinely jump ship every 6 months. Imagine spending the time / effort to train people, only to have them leave after 6 months.
To the person who warned "You are exactly what is wrong with Follett...". I'll start believing your line of talk when you surrender 50% of your salary "for the good of the company" You need to remember that you are just as replaceable as the next guy, even if you work hard and when you are no longer needed you will be let go. You need to remember you first and foremost work for "(YourName)-Co" While you are and your employer have a symbiotic relationship (neither can survive without the other), it doesn't mean you should be a lackey to serve your master and not earn the best that you can possibly get. As seen by the mass exoduses of the best talent to direct competitors, I think Follett has a lot of work to do in living the Follett Values towards their employees.
XYZ
THE NEW ONE FOLLETT VALUE: Our share price and dividend are going up each year—we are fine! This is all the Family values.
http://lifehacker.com/the-company-you-work-for-is-not-your-friend-1692113529
Not true, the vision is the investment in the dictionary website.
That was a great video of AO introduction of ML stressing shareholder value only without any vision as how to implement that growth. Since then MLS has not given any new or innovative ideas or plans to increase revenues, develop employees, retain current colleges, win new college contracts or improve student loyalty.
Anonymous82628 has a point. There are many talented employees who complete their work in 40 hours, versus those that waste time during the day. For many, the do what it take attitude died over the last 2 years.
Follett has always been a family first company and they still are - Follett family that is.
LOL. If you are looking for people who fail to produce quality, you don't have to look any farther than some of the outsource groups. You won't find me, but what I said still stands. The company doesn't care about quality. It is all about the shareholder stock value. THAT came directly from AO and ML. Don't try to put the blame on me.
Good tirade mary and don. Ride em hard and put em up wet. I however will continue to reduce my output and work hours to your low levels. Bwa ha haa!
You are exactly what is wrong with Follett. People should be thankful to have their jobs and do what we ask them to do. They should be willing to put in more time than necessary to get stuff done during the expected deadlines with high quality. That is what makes a good employee versus a mediocre one -- that's you. Since no one, including yourself, are willing to do this, we've decided to start outsourcing some of your jobs to let others have a chance at doing the work we require. We've demanded quality for years and lazy people like you cause us to fall flat. People like you have stained our image. I don't know who you are, 82628, but I assure you that I will find out and make sure your job is the next one to be outsourced.
I work for one of the external IT consulting firms, I see this view throughout IT at Follett.
You sound like an hourly employee. Look at the managers, as we are the ones working 50-60 hours a week - expected. I wish I could go home after 40. I live here and I take work home. There is absolutely no work life balance for any salaried person. I get a dirty look if I leave after working a minimum of 9 hours. My email box is full of emails after 6 pm. Hounded and called constantly. For what?
@82606 - I never said I don't want to work hard. I said I don't want to put in overtime. I do put in my 40 hours and I'm very effective. I get things done. If you think "working hard" means putting more than 40 hours a week in you are sorely mistaken. You also said "every positive (I) mentioned is a benefit to (me)". This is exactly the type of attitude every employee should have. If they invest their lives into a company and don't get anything in return, they're not living their life right. My responsibilities aren't to my employer, they're to myself and my family. Follett has always been a family first company and they still are.
Maybe I'm not a model employee that can change Follett and grow their profitability, but I'm also not in a position to make decisions. I'm merely a worker that puts their 40 hours in and does what I'm told. I've tried to influence decisions and point issues out in the past and have always been ignored. I've learned it isn't worth it and instead I should focus on my life and my family.
Your attitude is common now at Follett. Unfortunately it is not the type of employee that will build success and the company will continually decline resulting in more and more layoffs.Every positive you mention is just a benefit to you. You do not talk about the benefits of working at Follett, the challenges of making projects successful or the company more profitable. You don't want to commute and you don't want to work hard.
Follett is not that bad of a place to work. If you are lucky, like I am, it pays well and it doesn't require a lot of over time. Ya, quality is going down and they are starting to out source things. Maybe my job will be one of them but not for a few years. I don't want a long commute. Right now I drive twenty minutes and I'm in the office. If I went anywhere else, it'd be over an hour. Until the time comes where I am forced out I may as well enjoy it. Maybe not all departments are like this but mine is.
They don't value employees, that's for sure. How can they keep,getting rid of experienced people and replacing them with losers from failed companies?.
Follett is a few years behind the times. There are many companies that value their employees. Good luck....you will find one - I did.
We are competing with workers from third world countries. Isn't that what IT is comprised of?
Welcome to the new economy. We aren't competing with workers from 3rd world countries any longer. They've cut pay and benefits so hiring domestically is profitable once again. Half a generation from now, no one will remember what is was like to work for a company that appreciated the work their employees do.